Coin actuated releasing mechanism



COIN ACTUATED RELEASING MECHNISM Original Filed March 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nlllllu u# ATTORNEYS.

Shee1',sA-SheerI 2 v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS c. WILDER' original Filed March 18, 1941 vOct. 14, 1947.

'I COIN ACTUATED REILEAS'ING MECHANISM Oc't. 14, 1947. c. WILDER 2,429,148

COIN ACTUATEDIRELEASING MECHANISM Original VFiled March 18, 1941 lC5 Shet-Shet 3 lNvENToR.

. BYnJ, W m4/4J ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 14, 1947 UNITED vS'IA'l'liS PATENT `OFFICE.

42,429,148 m COIN ACTUATED RELEASING MECHANISM Charlton Wilder, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor of `fifty per cent to Albert Price, University City,

vMo.

(Cl. .1M-55.)

4 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines of the type adapted te dispense merchandise upon insertion vof coi-ns or change. This application is a -division ,loi-my copending application Serial No. 383,991, iiled .March 18, 1941, now Patent Number 2,380,093, issued .July 1-0, 1945, entitled Dispensing machine, .and it Iis directed particularly to a coin vactuated releasing mechanism which is operable in the pending Vof articles through various combinations of coins of difierent value. Throughout the balance of this speciiioation, operation with ,nickels and -dimes is referred Ato whereby. articles being sold at twenty cents .may be purchased through insertion of two dimes, :four nickels, or twonickels Yand one dime, Whilearticles 4being sold in the same machine at fifteen cents are vended upon insertion f three nickels or vone nickel and one dime. It is to .be understood, however, that this reference to coins and pricesis illustrative `only, and that the apparatus may be constructed to operate in similar manneroncoins of other value.

The device is .intendedfor use in cooperation with a vending and ejecting .machine which normally .is locked and which isreleased only after coins oa suitable value in various combinations havebeen inserted into theconactuated releasing mechanism herein '.disclosed. One vtypical Vending mechanism with ywhich-.the .present apparatus may be used `isdisclosedin the aforesaid parent application.

Briefly, the present mechanism isa device for totalizing coin .diameters in which a plurality 0f iingers for accumulating fthe measured coin .diametersis utilized. Thesefmgers are .divided yinto groups, one for coins fof a given value, others for coins of a different value .anddiiierentdiameten The ngers are liftable by cams which are arranged to engage the coin .peripheries and the fingers for the coins `of .differentvalue are interconnected with one .another .for V.release of the mechanism Vonly when coins of :a predetermined total value have been inserted.

Normally the :lingers of the mechanism 4lock it against releasing movements. However, when all of the .lingers or certain of them are lifted, a releasing action is obtained through' which the dispensing mechanism .of .the machine is unlatched and the purchaser is enable to operate.

it. There are further features .and advantages of the present mechanism .shown in the drawings in which -a preferred embodiment of the improvement is illustrated, and in the Yfollowing specication in which the structure of the drawings is described in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside view of the coin released lock.

Figure 2 is a side view of the lock similar to Figure l but with some of the bars broken away to show the carriage.

Figure 3 is .a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 further illustrating the slide carriage.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line,` 5--5 of Figure l. showing the arrangement of `the link elements for the bars.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on th'e 4line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a side view of the lock showing the dime side of the mechanism,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the carri-age in the forward or locked position showing `coins `of a smaller value, for example nickels, in ,operatingA position.

Figure 9 .is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the carriage moved rearwardly and thus unlocked.

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing a modied form of the lock.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the interlinkage of the latch fingers for twentycent Operation, for example, with four nickels.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating operation similar to that disclosed in Figure 11 but with only two coins each of twice the value,

for instance twenty-cent operation with two dimes.

v.Figure 13 is a diagrammatic View showing operation with two coins Veach of smaller value and one coin twice their value, for example, twentycent operation with two nickels and one dime.

Figure 14 is 'a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified for-m of operation with one coin of smaller valueand one coin of larger value, for instance, f-teen-cent operation with one nickel and one dime.

Figure 15 vis a diagrammatic View showing an operation similar to Figure 14 with three coins of smaller value, for example, fteen-cent operation with' three nickels.

In general, the coin actuated release is comprised of a stationary member and a movable member. There are a series of latches, one or all lof which prevents movement of the movable member with respect to the stationary member until they are released. The coins are stacked upon one another in the mechanism, and, as previously described, the peripheries of the coins are utilized to lift fingers which release the latches.

In the preferred structure there are three latches: two of these are operable by nickels, the other by a dime, and the latch-releasing fingers Vare arranged to totalize the coin diameters. However, to accommodate different combinations of coins, making up, say, a total of twenty cents,

the latch fingers at the nickel and dime sides f the mechanism are cross connected so that a dime may exert the equivalent functionof two nickels in latch-releasing at the nickel side, and two nickels may exert the equivalent latching-releasing function of a dime at the dime side of the machine.

The latching mechanism is adapted to be fastened to an inner wall at one side of a package dispensing machine on appropriate brackets. In the instance shown, the mechanism is positioned at the right hand side of the machine. It is believed that specific installation of the mechanism, in relation to the operating mechanism of any dispensing machine to which the latch is adaptable, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The mechanism comprises, generally, a frame 28, a slide carriage 2| which is slidable on the frame, and a plurality of latch fingers or bars 22 pivotally journalled at their forward ends on the frame. The slide carriage 2| comprises two side members 23 and 24 formed in each instance by Y a. pair of plates. The slide carriage is preferably rectangular in shape and the two side members are fixed in spaced relationship at the four corners thereof by Yfour spacer elements 25 secured to the side members by bolts 26.

The frame of the latch mechanism comprises two vertical end channels 21 and 28, one at each end, two horizontal guide bars 29 and 3, at the top and bottom, and a base plate 3|. The upper guide bar 25 is threaded at both ends and is held to the two end channels by appropriate nuts. The lower guide bar 30 may be fixed to the base plate 3| and to the two end channels 21-28 by welding, bolts, or other means.

The carriage is slidably mounted between the upper and lower guide bars 2S and 30 on the spacer elements 25. The spacer elements are short stub shafts, each having a pair of collars 32-32 which straddle the guide bars. A cam plate 33 is fixed at the forward end of the slide carriage. The cam plate is disposed centrally of the two side members 23 and 24 and is fixed to the carriage on the forward pair of spacer elements 25. The lower edge of the cam plate 33 may ride on the lower guide bar 30.

Cam plate 33 is adapted to be engaged by a roller 34 rotatively journalled in the end of a swingable arm 35. The swingable arm 3-5 is in turn keyed to the end of a rod 36. When the slide carriage is unlatched, it is free to be moved by the arm 35. The cam surface of the plate 33 is of U shape so that the reverse movement of the swingable arm will. return the slide carriage to the lock closed position. In the copending application, Serial No. 383,991, filed March 18, 1941, by the present inventor, the `connection of the swingable arm 35 with a. package dispensing mechanism through the rod 36 is disclosed. Thus, rod 3S, as shown in that application, comprises the axle of a lock bar which extends longitudinally of the vending machine in front of a plurality of dispensing carriages to act as a gate. When the lock plate is in the upright position, the swingable arm 35 is in the position shown in Figure 1; that is, locked. In this position, the lock bar blocks withdrawal of any one of the dispensing carriages. When the slide carriage is unlatched and free to move, the lock bar is free to be swung out of the way by withdrawal of one of the carriages. After the dispensing carriage is returned to its inward position, the lock bar, and consequently the slide carriage, since they are interconnected by the swingable arm 35, may be returned to the locked position by appropriate springs or a counterbalance.

For illustrative purposes, the two side members 23 and 24 of the slide carriage will be termed nickel and dime sides respectively. The nickel side 23 is best shown in Figure 2. The nickel side has four longitudinal slots cut through it. These slots, from bottom to top, are designated as 31, 38, 39 and 4D respectively.

Toward the back edge of the nickel side member, the outer plate of the two comprising the side member 23 is bent outwardly to constitute a vertical chute 4| running from the top to the bottom of the member. This chute 4| is only large enough to permit a nickel to pass through and allow enough clearance to prevent jamming. The other side member 24 of the carriage is similarly coniigurated providing a dime chute as at 42, but in this instance, there are only two longitudinal slots 43 and 44.

A latch finger 22 is installed in each of the longitudinal slots. Each latch linger comprises a U- or channel-shaped head piece 45, one wall of which is extended forwardly constituting an arm 46 which terminates in a fork 41. The fork of each latch linger straddles a side wall of the forward vertical end channel v21 and is pivotally journalled thereon as at 48.

The bottom of each latch finger at the head 45 of its channelled portion, is cut out intermediate the ends thereof to provide a slot 49, leaving two marginal strips 50 and 5| at the forward and rear edges. The latch fingers are installed so that the slots 49 are aligned with the vertical coin chutes 4|, on the nickel side, and 42, on the dime side, when the slide carriage 2| is in the forward or locked position. At this time, the head pieces 45 rest on the bottom edge of the respective longitudinal slots.

The nickel side latch fingers are opposites of those at the dime side of the unit; that is, the arms 46 of both the nickel and the dime bars extendalong the 'outside of the side members 23 and 2-4 and the head pieces extend toward each other into the respective longitudinal slots. For reference purposes, the latch fingers will be indicated at N-|, N-2, N-B, and N-4 from bottom to top on the nickel side, and D-I and D-2 from bottom to top on the dime side.

On the nickel side of the slide carriage, it will be noted that the lowermost longitudinal slot 3'! and the uppermost longitudinal slot 4U are provided with shoulders 52 and 53, respectively, in their lower edges intermediate the ends thereof. On the dime side a similar shoulder 54 is provided in the lowermost slot 43 only. These three shoulders 52, 53 and 54 constitute the lock elements of the latch mechanism. The shoulders are forwardly of the head pieces of thelatch fingers. With all or any one of the three latch fingers N-I, N-4 or D-l resting on the lower edges of their respective longitudinal slots, upon slight rearward movement of the slide carriage the shoulders abut the marginal strips 50 of the head pieces and lock the slide carriage against substantial rearward movement. Therefore, to unaffamata clock ithe iislide :carriage r ,so fthat :',it Visrfneefrto the frnoved-V completely. reinwardly,l it-iis inecessarylifor all :three .of .the latch :barsfN-l N-A and .2D-el ,tof;be;raised above the:levelzof:thezshoulders52,-;53 'fandl -The ,present v:inventor .has provided links the tweenthe .variousflatchingers. hBy'this arrange- .ment,;diierent combinations ofcoinsihave equiv- .ffalentifuncticnsinunlatchingithezthreeglocksfcon istituted .byvthe three :shoulders e512, 'anii '515. Three;linksfarefprovided. .-Alink-.fisixeditorthe .head toftlatch'.fingerlN--rt'y andfextendsy downwardly to carry a foot f'l-.whichsengages under the'fhea'dfof .-latch nger :D-.J Therefore, 'when :latch finger f 11).. A linkfSBisiixedtothe 'head of latchii'higer .D-.`2*and-'extends-intow'liftable engagement v:with flatch nger N-'I andwflnger Tbl-4. Therefore, Y.When latchfnger DZxiSilifted, ngers'zN-ilcand N--4 are also lifted (Figure l2). Aflinketjour- .nailed onsthe head" `ofilatchrlger rN-2,1:extends upwardly and is turned over at Vits 'upper f andato .liftably tenga-ge the head of latchtinger N-IL Therefore,A whenfngerN-Zaisl lifted; finger iN- .isalso lifted `@Figure 113). Linkv 59 is pivoeally 4xjournalled fon' latch inger'-l N-.2 and iis ,urged'inwardly --for engagement with Vthe latchfbar EN-"r4 by-a=-leaf springf'. Theleaf springsfastenedfto :the :latch bar `l\T-2 Y:below the' .pivot for ith'e flink 59 sandfextends upwardly on theV outside Y:of 'fthe lnk, 1' then inwardly lto fengage the link near its `upperend.

The :link'fwis effective y'only'wheniless than three nickels areiutilized. 'fWhen:atthirdnickelis .inthevertical coin chute .41 ,zatlock-nutfrod .ESI is actuated to .swing vthe ijpivotedlink outwardly against the pressure :of spring" B0. .Thislockernit ,rod @B I iis secured -to 'the ;forward y.vertical zend channel :27 and extends horizontally across :the face of the side :memberfZB :between the :latch bars N 2: anclfN-S lbehin'd'the '.link591 (Figurel) The vrod'.-6| terminates 'J'ust :to the'rre'arsof the verticals slot v4 i and is bentinwardlyxat Shinto fa slot 63 which runs 'parallel "toand between fthe rod :6| thatextends liuto the Vslot a3-constitutes a cam. When the slidelcarriage lti'stmoveiin- `wardly lslglxtly,'the cam'fiZ rextendsinto thevertical coin chute E4 (Figure :4) and Whenfafthir'cl nickel vis in the chute, vthe camis .engaged 1b-y lit andthe rod-is moved .'outwardly,:thus'lockin'g out the rod l :and vdisengaging rtheflinlzl'a.

Two vvslots $65 I and :6B :are "cut .through the'ibase .plate 3-l these; provide vdischargefpassagesfori-the respective coins f'through rthe base pl'ate Aand 1 eX- ,tend longitudinally 1in 'a ilne withthe vertical coin chutes over the'llength'of theirhc-rizontal travel. 'At the ,forwardcend ofthe` slotsliis'. and 6B the vpassagethrough thefslots isb'locked'by- La .coin .release nrember'icomprising abottom `plate-Gi which liesfflatly a'gainstthelower-faceA ofthe-.base plate 31, and fmarginal 1 bracket Lstrips 5269-4169 which engage thefside-iedges vof the baseplate''! :to provide guide :channels 'lll-lil for sustaining kthe .plate 'S ln 'sliding relationship therew-ith. Normally," the :coin release 61 is in the forward -position `shown 2' in Figure .f1 Ythat =is,athe l coinfdis- `chargefopenings {i5-6G .are vblocked-by@the slidable 'releaseplate `Atange 'H is turned :clownfrom'the "forward f:

edgeofthe plate and is engaged by'afro'd tl2, Lthe end-of Awhichzis" threaded to'carryrtwonuts for locking the f'flange between them. The l'foraward end Vof 'the `rod 'l2 mayeXtend through an appropriate. aperture inzrthe front 'of the'lhousing .6 .-.cabinet inutp'sshown) and ihave 'za .knob Liplnd thereto so that it can be grasped. Therlease plateiislheldzattitsnnward'.position, againststop ipins 131, byfzaspringx'l around;the'f.rod l2-posi 5 Vtionecl 'between the-Harige 'fzll and thefzfront :wall

r-:of the :cabinet To zrelease .the coins fromthe.

4TNerticalzrchu'tes without operating lthe:dispensing mechanism," t'he'; operatorfpulls out onfthearod .1.2,

into a slide, indicated generallyfati; whichrcom- -municates withtheftdelivery tray i (notz'shown) at ithe v front fof 'L'.the housing cabinet -to :return-.the kfcoin'sitofthe operator.

To fthe :'-frear fof fthe 'coin -'release plate Ff fibe- 1heath theends'of'rthecoin slots' 65 andi 6B in the .ibase plate-:3 l ,'fa: coinachute -1'1 is provided which v: cornm-lmi'cates with '.a "coin collection :box -inot f-.shown-). 'Theref'oregwhen the carriage isreleased 220 I-and. lthenlmoved rearw.ard1y,"the` coins inthe Vertifcal'coin chutes't l fandf'l2 are 'moved off `the sup- Cport :provided Iby -the coin 'release' plate `l68 :and 'ifall into't'herchutes fconfmcunicatingl withthe :coin collection box.

The coin chutes, by which the coins' reachthe elatchin'g device' from ithe 'conventional 'openings A (not showniatfthe fronto'ffthemachinegin which zthe 'ccinsfare "inserted `bythe purchaser, and a :coin testing' device; installed in :these chutes, ifor 30 detect-ing slugs and "counterfeit J coins, are 'nt s'shownherehsincetheir"ccnstructicn and vuse 'are l:wv-ell known in fthe fart. `The1ends of thenickel and'dirne chutes are' shown only fragmentarily '535 above the vertical '1 coin chutes in "the slide 'icar- -riage whenz it "is in 4ithe 'forward `or locked :position. i

'hellatchsmechariism, shown in Figures il itc-1.9,

iis-'adaptedt'o: operate yTonfall .possible cornbinations .40 of coins .'forf-either twenty-cent 'or 'fifteen-'cent packages ".Th'e flatch operates yin the "following rM'henfthe operatornpullsfout `on one Yofthe .packageiielivery carriages, "the :lock bar' ro'd'BS 'lis rotated. This moves theswingable arm '35 .ato mush .thezlatchffslide icarriagezinwardly. 'If no coinsare inthe vertical 'coin chutes 'lil andfllZ 'lwhenithe slidef'carria'ge'movesin slightly, the shoulders i5t2'fan'd 53 onfthe nickel `side and "54 .on: the dime'side abutthe'forwardaedges ofv the :marginalstrips .56 Tof 'rthe 'respectivefhead pieces t5-lof thexlatch 'i-lngersand'ithe slide carriage is :flocked: against 'dispensing rnovement.

When :the proper'nuniber of coins is inserted, the .following takes 'placez ``In ltvventycent'operk7ation'with four nickels, the-'nickel side of fthe {carriage isthe-only'one used. The operation Twit'h fthese four coins is 'shown diagrammatically finfigurefl'l. "Theffour'nickels come intothe'verstica] chute lll .andfstackup one abovethe other. :The nickel rlatch"1ingers are so lspaced that as fthe slide c'arria'gefis m'ovedrearwardly, the foriward'sedge *ofthemarginal lstrip'til von each head zpiece'xengagesthe-periphery of the coin adjacen'ttit, .substantially above the centerthereof, and ridesrfup fonitliftingl the latch linger; thus, vall'..nic1:el@latchlingers are lifted, and the shouldersZ andf inthe .longitudinal'slots '31 and Il@ are clearedby the respectivemarginal strips "5b. The `four nickels, `therefore, unlatch fthe :two `locking'zsf-ioulders y-52 'and-5%. The remaininglo'ck-ingshoulder 54 `in thelower longitudinal slot :'63 ron the-dirne Iside is freed by the 'link V56 I.whichfisiikedftothe-head oflatch bar N-#Sand 'extends underlatchD--L Consequently, when 1175 latch rbarfN-LS ismoved-'up by the `thirdv nickel,

latch bar D-l also is lifted, clearing the shoulder 54.`

When all three latch shoulders are cleared by the respective movable latch members, the slide carriage can be moved rearwardly as far as the swingable arm 35 will permit. At the end of its movement, the coins in the vertical slots, being beyond the end of the latch bars and being beyond the end of the coin release plate 68, fall from the vertical chutes through the slot 65 and into the collection box.

Upon insertion of the two dimes, the operation is as follows: (Figure 12) The lirst dime causes latch bar D-l to be lifted in the manner previously described. The upper dime latch bar D-2 is lifted by the second dime. Lock shoulders 52 and 53, are locked by lingers N-l and N-4. These ngers are lifted by the link 58 which is fixed to the head of latch bar D-2 and extends into engagement with them. Thus, .lifting nger D-2 raises lingers N--l and N-ll.y

Therefore, the lirst dime frees shoulder 54 on the dime side and the second dime, through the link 58, frees the two shoulders 52 and 53 on the nickel side.

The operation on one dime and two nickels is as follows: (Figure 13) The nrst dime is positioned to lift latch linger D-I and thereby free shoulder 54 when the carriage is moved. The first nickel is positioned to lift linger N-I and free shoulder 52. The second nickel lifts latch linger N-2 and consequently lifts linger N-4 through link 59, thereby freeing shoulder 53.

The latch mechanism is also adapted for operation on lifteen cents. The means for adapting the mechanism to fifteen-cent operation is disclosed and claimed in the above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 383,991, filed March 18, 1941. The adaptation is simple and it is believed that it will be understood from the following description. On those delivery carriages which are to be utilized to dispense fifteencent packages, a round-headed bolt is lixed. The bolt extends at right angles from the side of the delivery carriage at the rear thereof. A shaft 80, extending the length of the casing, journalled in the end walls thereof, carries a number of downwardly extended lingers. One of these lingers is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 at 8|.

Each finger 8l depends from the shaft to the right of the carriage in front of the bolt. When the delivery carriage is withdrawn slightly, the finger is engaged and the shaft is rotated.

The shaft 8U extends through the right wall of the casing and carries an arm 82 (Figure 1) pinned to the extended end thereof. A pin 83 fixed to the head of latch bar N-4 extends at right angles from the outer wall of the head pin and is engaged in a slot 84 in the arm 82. The arm 82 projects forwardly from the shaft 80 to the pin 83, and, therefore, when a bolt on one of the dispensing carriages swings one of the downwardly extended fingers 8| forwardly, the latch bar N-4 is lifted (Figure l). Preferably, one of the downwardly extended lingers is provided for each fifteen-cent carriage; the installation of a bolt then adapts any one of the dispensing units for fifteen-cent operation.

It is only necessary for the arm 82 to remain up long enough for the slide carriage to be moved rearwardly for the shoulder 53 to clear the latch bar N-4. Fingers 8| are V-shaped with the inclined surfaces of the V engageable by the rounded head of the bolt carried on the dispensing carriage. The shaft 80 is cushioned by a spring which surrounds the shaft and has its one end abutting the wall of the casing and a collar on the shaft. The movement of the shaft is limited by a second collar which abuts the opposite wall of the casing, The shaft has sufcient longitudinal play to permit the bolt to move past the linger after swinging it enough to clear the latch bar N-4 of the shoulder 53. On the return stroke of the delivery carriage, if the lingers 8| do not return by their own weight, the bolt returns them and snaps by them when the limit of the travel of the lingers is reached to lie behind them ready for the next operation.

On three nickels the fifteen-cent operation is as follows: (Figure 15) the lirst nickel lifts latch linger N-l freeing shoulder 52. The third nickel lifts latch linger N-3 and, through the link 5B, lifts latch bar D-I freeing shoulder 54. 'I'he latch finger N-4 is lifted by the arm 82 as described above.

It will be noted that the second nickel, in lifting latch bar N-Z, also lifts the link 58; but, since a third nickel is in the Vertical chute 4l at this time, the lock-out rod 6l is moved to disengage the link 59 from the latch linger N-4. The lockout rod 6| is utilized to lock out the latch finger N-2 from its connection with latch linger N-4 so that the twenty-cent packages cannot be dispensed on three nickels. If the lock-out were not provided, the first nickel would free latch nger N-l from shoulder 52, the second nickel would free latch finger N-4 from shoulder 53 through link 59, and the third nickel would free linger D-I from shoulder 54 through link 56.

Fifteen-cent operation on one dirne and one nickel is as follows: (Figure 14) The firstdt'me frees latch linger D-l from shoulder 54, the first nickel frees latch linger N-I from shoulder 52, and the latch linger N-4 is freed from shoulder 53 by the arm 82 as outlined above.

As a modification, a latch may be arranged for operation on ten or fifteen cents. This modilication is shown. in Figure 10. It will be noted that it is identical to the twenty-cent latch with the exceptions that the latch bars N-l! and D Z are omitted and that different linkages between the latch bars are provided.

Fifteen-cent operation on three nickels is as follows: The lirst nickel is positioned to lift latch linger N-|, thus freeing shoulder 52. Shoulder 54 is likewise freed by the third nickel through a link attached to the latch finger N-3 and engaged under a liange 86 on the head of latch bar D-l. Operation of the carriage upon insertion of a dirne and a nickel causes the two bottom lingers N-l and D-I to be lifted to free the respective shoulders 52 and 54.

Operation on ten cents in this modified form is similar to operation on fifteen cents in the latch shown in Figures l to 9 in that the arm 82 is utilized. The same arrangement of the shaft 80, lingers 8l and round-headed bolts is utilized for the delivery carriages carrying ten-cent packages. In this instance, the arm 82 lifts a link bar 81 when a delivery carriage carrying a bolt is withdrawn. The link 87 is slidably journaled in a guide block 88 fixed to the upper guide bar 29 and depends between the side members 23-24 of the carriage where it is bent over at the lower end to liftably engage a flange 39 on the head of latch linger N-L When the link 87 is lifted, the latch finger N-l is also lifted. A swinging link 9i) is pivotally journalled at the end of an arm Sl fixed to the head of latch finger N-2. The free end of the swinging link 90 is bent over to provide a foot 92. Near the upper end of the swinging link 90 a raised portion on the arm provides a cam 93. A similar cam 94 at the side of the link bar 81 is adapted to engage with the cam 93 when the link bar 81 is raised to swing the link 99 to engage the foot 92 under the head of the latch linger D-I. The foot 92, as shown, is long enough and the cams 93 and 94 long enough so that as the latch iinger N-2 is raised, the end of the foot 92 remains under the hea-d of the latch linger D-l. When the link bar 81 is lowered again after a dispensing operation, the swinging link disengages from latch finger D-l by its own weight, or a spring may be provided.

For operation on two nickels, the link bar 81 is raised by the arm 82 as described above. This raises the latch :linger N-l and engages the foot 92 on the swinging link 99 under the head of latch nger D-I. The second nickel, therefore, in raising latch linger N-2 also raises latch 1inger D-I through the link 90. For ten-cent `operation on one dime the latch linger D-I is lifted, freeing shoulder 54 while the link bar 81 raises latch bar N-l to free shoulder 52.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A coin actuated release mechanism comprising a stationary member, a movable member, a chute for containing coins of one denomination, a second chute for containing coins of another denomination, said chutes being disposed on opposite sides of said movable member adjacent one end thereof in side by side relationship, a plurality of fingers pivoted to said stationary member relatively at the end of said movable member opposite said chutes, said ngers constituting latches for restraining movement of said movable member with respect to said stationary member, said lingers being adapted to engage the peripheries of coins contained within said chutes so as to be lifted thereby to unlatching positions upon movement of said movable member, means for interconnecting the fingers for engaging the coins in one chute with the fingers for engaging the coins inthe other chute, in such manner that a coin of one denomination in one chute can lift the fingers which otherwise would be lifted by coins of an equivalent total value in the other chute, gate means at the bottom of said chutes for supporting the coins therein, and means for opening said gate means to effect removal of the coins from the chutes prior to latch releasing operation.

2. A coin controlled release mechanism, comprising a track, an operating carriage adapted to be moved along said track, said carriage including vertically disposed coin slots arranged at opposite sides of said track in side by side relationship adjacent one end of said operating carriage, each slot adapted to receive and stack coins of a different denomination, a series of superposed fingers for each coin slot, said fingers being pivotally mounted in cooperative relation to said track and carriage, said fingers being arranged in sets, one set for each coin slot, each finger constituting a latch for holding said operating carriage against movement, and all iingers being positioned to engage the peripheries of coins in said slots so as to be lifted thereby to unlatching positions upon movement of said carriage, means for interconnecting the iingers for engaging coins in one chute with the fingers for engaging coins in the other chute, in such manner that a coin of one denomination in one chute can lift the ngers which otherwise would be lifted by coins of an equivalent total value in the other chute, whereby the movement to unlatching position of all of the fingers in either group by coins in said coin slots is effective for effecting total release of said carriage,

3. A coin controlled release mechanism comprising a track, an operating carriage adapted to be moved along said track, said carriage including vertically disposed coin slots arranged at opposite sides of said track in side by side relationship adjacent one end of said carriage, each of said slots being adapted to receive coins of a denomination diii'erent from the other, a series of locking elements pivotally mounted on said track adjacent the opposite end of said operating carriage from said coin slots and extending toward said coin slots for operation thereby of coins in said slots, said locking elements having a multiple locking action on the carriage, each locking element being effective either through its own movement or interconnected movement with another locking element for releasing the carriage when coins aggregating a predetermined total are inserted in the slots.

4. A coin actuated release mechanism which comprises a frame, a carriage slidable within the frame and including means constituting a pair of coin chutes arranged in side by side relationship adjacent one end of said frame, one of said chutes being adapted to receive coins of a given denomination, and the other of the chutes being adapted to receive coins of a diii'erent denomination, a set of fingers arranged to ride upon the peripheries of coins stacked in one of the chutes, another set of fingers arranged to ride upon the peripheries of coins stacked in the other of said chutes, said fingers being pivoted to said frame at the end thereof opposite said coin chutes, said fingers constituting latches having a multiple latching action on said carriage and movable through riding engagement of coins in said chutes to unlatching positions for effecting release of said carriage upon insertion in said chutes of coins aggregating a predetermined total.

CHARLTON WILDER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Steiner Sept. 21, 1943 Number 

